Open forum: Exploring the positive side of 'Obamacare'

THE QUESTION: Since we have heard so much about the Affordable Care Act lately, can you get someone, who is qualified, to explain the important, positive aspects of the law. This should include what the Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost/savings will be over time - if any.

Joseph Lock, Carencro

THE ANSWER: There has been a lot of negative publicity surrounding the Affordable Care Act. There are definitely pros and cons to the law. But as your question implies, there are some aspects of the law that are desirable for many of the uninsured of the state and the United States.

Those who buy individual plans - that is, not through an employer - are likely to see "richer benefits," said Robin Mayhall, a spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

"The law mandates that individual plans have essential benefits with 10 categories," she said.

Individual plans will be set up so as to encourage clients to build stronger relationships with their primary care doctors, who will be aware of all their medications, including those prescribed by specialists, Mayhall said. Primary care doctors will "quarterback the team," she said.

There are other good things coming with the ACA, better known as Obamacare.

There are a number of protections under the ACA, according to healthcare.gov.

In the past, insurance companies routinely refused to cover pre-existing conditions, but the ACA requires insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing health conditions

The law also holds insurance companies accountable for rate increases; it makes it illegal for health insurance companies to arbitrarily cancel your health insurance just because you get sick and protects your choice of doctors.

It also allows young adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance policy.

The ACA also provides free preventive care to help people stay healthy.

Under the ACA, insurance policies will no longer impose lifetime and yearly dollar limits on coverage of essential health benefits. This is important to those who have serious, long-term illnesses and who sometimes cannot get treatment after their benefits run out or end up losing everything after a major illness.

And finally, the ACA guarantees clients' right to appeal, if a claim is denied.

As to your question regarding the cost-benefit ratio, the Congressional Budget Office sent this answer via email: "The Congressional Budget Office does not have these data."

We were unable to find that answer, either. On the consumer side, premiums are expected to go down, according to some sources, when more people, especially young, healthy people, purchase policies through the state and federal health care exchanges.

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Open forum: Exploring the positive side of 'Obamacare'

THE QUESTION: Since we have heard so much about the Affordable Care Act lately, can you get someone, who is qualified, to explain the important, positive aspects of the law.